Hainan Assembly Hall (Quynh Phu Assembly Hall)

Historic Building in Hoi An

Hainan Assembly Hall
CC BY-SA 4.0 / Christophe95

The Hainan Assembly Hall, also known as Quynh Phu Assembly Hall, was constructed in 1883 by Chinese immigrants from Hainan. Although Hoi An was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999, the Hainan Assembly Hall only opened to the public in 2016, following a period of restoration.

The History of the Hainan Assembly Hall

The hall honors 108 Chinese merchants who were unjustly killed by military officials of the Nguyen Dynasty in 1851. Their ship was mistakenly identified as a pirate vessel, leading to its destruction by cannon fire. In 1875 after a thorough investigation, the Vietnamese Emperor Tu Duc apologised,  granted deity status to the victims and authorized the funds for the construction of the temple to commemorate and worship those who perished. Construction started in 1883 and was finished in 1891.

The Architecture of the Hainan Assembly Hall

The Hainan Assembly Hall was constructed using the traditional Chinese ‘Two Hall Two Courtyard’ architectural style. This design features a Front Hall, a Main Hall, an Open Air Courtyard, and two covered halls on the Eastern and Western sides, creating a square layout when viewed from above.

The Front Hall, which opens to the street, functions as both the entrance and greeting area of the Assembly Hall. Externally, it appears modest, separated from the road by a fence with characteristic yellow Hoi An-style pillars. However, upon entering, visitors will find a surprisingly spacious area designed for socializing and enjoying tea. To the right inside the hall, there is a small shrine dedicated to the Earth God and a plaque detailing the hall’s history, including the story of the ‘108 Brothers’ to whom the shrine inside is dedicated.

Beyond the Front Hall lies a large open-air courtyard, carefully maintained with potted plants arranged to form a pathway leading to the Main Hall. This courtyard, which adds to the hall’s charm, makes the Hainan Assembly Hall one of the most organized and well-maintained assembly halls in the area.

On the Eastern and Western sides, the hall includes ‘Assembly Hall’ sections, known in Chinese architecture as Protective Dragons. These wings were historically used by Hainanese immigrants for meetings, events, and large gatherings. Today, these spaces are mostly empty but still house some tables, chairs, and wall decorations. Each side also contains a room dedicated to ancestral worship, honoring the generations of Hainanese who migrated to Hoi An.

The Main Hall itself is unique compared to other Assembly Halls in Hoi An, as it does not feature statues but instead contains Spirit Tablets representing deities. The central shrine is dedicated to the ‘108 Brothers,’ also known as ‘Xiongdi Gong,’ whose tragic story ties Vietnam and Hainan together in history. The hall’s other shrines include one on the left dedicated to the hall’s founders and one on the right dedicated to the Chinese God of Wealth.

The Hainan Assembly Hall (Quynh Phu Assembly Hall) appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Hoi An!

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Visiting Hainan Assembly Hall (Quynh Phu Assembly Hall)

Price:

Hoi An Old Town ticket

Address: Hainan Assembly Hall, 10 Trần Phú, Old Town, Minh An, Hội An, Quảng Nam, Vietnam

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